Rest In The Lord
By Pastor Mitch
November 13, 2020
CEASE FROM ANGER
Anger and wrath come about when people allow themselves to fret unabatedly. This was something that David must have personally struggled with. He was testifying from experience how fretting can lead to greater problems.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret- it only causes harm.” Psalm 37:8
His challenge to his readers was to cease from anger and to forsake wrath that comes from the heart. There were those who were fretting because the wicked were getting ahead in life due to their wicked schemes and ways. Fretting over such matters can lead to anger and even wrath. They can end up only harming themselves. The challenge is to not to fret and to cease from anger.
RESTING AND WAITING ON THE LORD
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;…” Psalm 37:7
1. Trusting and resting in the Lord go together
David’s testimony and challenge to the people was to trust in the Lord and to pray. As they trusted in the Lord, they were to rest in Him. The word “’rest” has the idea of being “still”. It is learning to be still as we trust in the Lord’s sovereignty. It is seeing the bigger picture and that He will prevail over all things in the end. Our part is to trust as we pray, be still as we meditate on Him and rest in Him. It is learning to leave everything to Him.
2. Resting and waiting patiently for the Lord go together
When our hearts are still and in “resting” mode in the Lord, we can learn to wait with hope in Him. There comes the ability to wait patiently each day for the Lord and for His will to unfold. The challenge is to keep walking in righteousness. Young people, sometimes, we don’t know how to trust in Lord and to wait patiently when problems come. The reason is that we tend to want results to unfold straight away when we pray. The reality of the matter is that God sometimes does not answer our prayers immediately. He wants us to learn patience. The challenge is for us to walk righteously, to rest in the Lord and wait on Him with hope for the future.
